Q: I was debating with a friend who smokes just under a half pack of cigarettes a day. I argue that any amount of smoking increases her risk for cancer. She always says “I don’t smoke that much.”
Q: I was debating with a friend who smokes just under a half pack of cigarettes a day. I argue that any amount of smoking increases her risk for cancer. She always says “I don’t smoke that much.”
Can you shed light smoking and cancer?
A: You would definitely win this debate. As it turns out, smoking still leads the way as the most common cause of preventable death in America (obesity related illnesses are a close second). Smoking has been linked to at least 15 different cancers, all of which can hasten death. This is not new information, however, statistics show that 1 in 5 Americans still smoke.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
Lung cancer is the most common cause of CANCER death in the America and the world. An estimated 42,000 more deaths were due to lung cancer than were due to colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. While not all lung cancer is smoking- related, lung cancer due to smoking stands out from other cancers because it is the most modifiable risk factor leading to the disease.
Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten to the point where we can tell how much one can smoke without developing cancer because so many factors play a role in the development of smoking-related cancer. A person who smokes very little may develop cancer early in life, whereas someone who smokes heavily may not. Keep in mind that cancer is only a drop in the bucket when it comes to smoking-related illnesses. Other major smoking-related illnesses including emphysema and heart disease are substantial causes of decreased quality of life and early death.
There does seem to be a racial and ethnic difference in smoking related cancers for reasons that are not entirely clear. In one study, Native Hawaiians and African Americans were most susceptible to lung cancer when fewer than 30 cigarettes per day were smoked. No there difference was found among groups when smoking exceeded 30 cigarettes per day.
As for other cancers, like pancreas and bladder cancer, smoking has been directly shown to cause these conditions. Cigarette smoking accounts for up to 50% of all bladder cancer cases. A fairly recent study confirmed that smoking cessation decreases bladder cancer risk and may decrease the recurrence of superficial bladder cancer (Journal of Urology, 2008).
The Good News:
Smoking cessation clearly decreases the risk of lung cancer among former smokers compared with current smokers, anywhere from 20-90%. It does take time, however. Reduction in risk can be seen as soon as five years after complete abstinence from smoking. The risk of cancer seems to be reduced the longer the duration of abstinence. Abstinence for ~15 years can reduce the risk of lung cancer by 80-90%!
Dave Montgomery, MD, PhD is a Cardiologist at Northwestern University, a sought after speaker and Health Coach. https://davemontgomerymd.com
About Post Author
